Day 6: A Day of Fun in Bocas Town

 

Day 6: Exploring Bocas Del Toro

The sixth day of our time at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) on Bocas Del Toro began a little later than usual, as today was our only off day during our stay at the Bocas Del Toro research institute. We started our day at 8 am with a meal from Desuze that consisted of eggs, toast, fruit (today was mango), and fruit juice.

Following breakfast, we were free to do whatever we wanted. Our group split up and went to different places on the island:

Picture of Bocas Town

1. Bocas Town: One group explored the area, visiting many stores and looking at different wares. These shops included ones with hats, clothes, and other memorabilia from the island.

One of the many fun signs that tells tourists where to go in Bocas Town

2. SCUBA Diving: Another group went SCUBA diving with a local dive shop. There they saw nurse sharks, eel, lionfish, triggerfish, arrow crab, toad fish, sea horse, and much more.

Photo of the wildlife seen by the group while preparing to on the SCUBA trip

3. STRI Station Wildlife: Personally, I spent my day observing the local wildlife here at the STRI station. I was particularly interested in the local species of leafcutter ants that live on the island.

Panoramic shot of the boat docks at STRI. To the left front is Mangrove Island, to the center is STRI Point, and to the right is House Reef.

Leafcutter Ant Observation

Over by the walkway that connects the lab to the dorms, I found a trail of leafcutter ants moving across the path. These ants were transporting leaves from the forested side of the path to the open clearing. While the species of these leafcutter ants is difficult to determine without close examination, I believe they may be Acromyrmex octospinosus, as these are typically found in Panama.

Example of one of the many paths that the Leafcutter ants take to gather leaves for their fungus gardens

I observed two of the four major caste groups within the leafcutter ant colony:

1. Mediae (foragers): These ants were moving back and forth, gathering leaves and other supplies. They followed a trail that crossed the path back into another set of trees past the open clearing.

   

   Mediae moving a leaf back to the colony

   
   
2. Majors (warriors): These larger ants guarded the path used by the mediae. They lined up on the path's edges and checked the mediae and other workers moving along the line. This behavior likely passes on information through pheromones or ensures the workers are from the correct colony.

   

   Major patrolling and protecting the mediae while they forage. Majors are easily distinguished from the rest of the workers with their big heads.

   
   

The castes can be distinguished due to polymorphism (different forms/types within a species) between the castes.

Ant-Fungus Mutualism

Leafcutter ants are fascinating as they are one of the few ant species that actively farm. These ants cultivate fungus in their colonies as one of their primary food sources. This form of mutualism, often called "ant-fungus mutualism," involves a colony of ants (including leafcutter ants) and a species of fungus from the genera Leucocoprineae.

In this relationship:

●       The ants care for the fungus by providing it with food (leaves) and maintaining essential environmental factors to allow the fungus to grow and thrive.

●       The fungus, in turn, provides essential nutrients for the ants' larvae, while the adult ants feed on the sap from the leaves.

Ecological Importance

These ants exhibit the remarkable species diversity here in Panama and demonstrate what we can discover when we look at the more minor details rather than just the bigger picture. For example, these ants fulfill a small but crucial niche within the rainforest and tropical ecosystems:

●       Several ant species rely on leafcutter ants for food. For instance, some species from the genera Megalomyrmex hunt exclusively for the fungal gardens or may even remove the original leafcutter ant colony and use the fungus for themselves.

●       Larger animals, like anteaters, utilize ants for food and are often essential for controlling insect populations in the surrounding areas.

If you are interested in learning more about the Leafcutter ants you can look at these two videos that help explain their behaviors and colony structure.

1.  My Dream Ant Farm: Leafcutter Ants (youtube.com)

2. Record Leaf-Cutting Ants at the Bocas del Toro Research Station, Smithsonian Institute, Panama, July 2008 | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)   

Following this eventful day we went to the Coco Fastronomy which had many different dishes  including Jamaican Chicken, Fish and Chips, and other types of seafood and traditional meals.

I have long wanted to see these ants in their natural habitat. This trip to Panama has been very enjoyable so far, and I'm excited to see what else Panama has in store for us during the rest of the week.

-Fox